ABSTRACT
Just when everything seems to be planned and in place-a sensible time scale for school development is in operation and things are running smoothly-something happens to rock the boat. It could be a staff change or illness, a change of National Curriculum policy or a proposed inspection, and it must be dealt with. Staff change may not come very often in a small school but when it does it tends to have major consequences-for some small schools, one member of staff leaving represents a 50 per cent staff turn over.
